1 : to lift or pull (something) with effort [+ obj] ▪ We heaved the box (up) onto the table. ▪ I tried to heave myself (up) out of the chair. ▪ She heaved the door shut. [no obj] — usually + on ▪ The sailors started heaving on the rope. 2 [+ obj] US : to throw (something) with effort
▪ heave a rock ▪ The quarterback heaved the ball down the field. 3 [+ obj] : to breathe in and breathe out (a sigh) in a slow or loud way
▪ She sat down and heaved a sigh of relief. 4 [no obj] a : to move up and down repeatedly
▪ He stopped running and stood there with his chest heaving. ▪ The boat heaved up and down with the waves.
b : to be pushed up
▪ The roads have begun to heave with frost. 5 [no obj] informal : vomit
▪ The smell made me want to heave. ◊If your stomach is heaving, you feel like vomiting.
▪ heave a rock ▪ The quarterback heaved the ball down the field.
▪ She sat down and heaved a sigh of relief.
▪ He stopped running and stood there with his chest heaving. ▪ The boat heaved up and down with the waves.
b : to be pushed up
▪ The roads have begun to heave with frost.
▪ The smell made me want to heave. ◊If your stomach is heaving, you feel like vomiting.
heave into view or heave in/into sight
past tense and past participle hove : to slowly move closer and become visible
▪ A ship hove into view on the horizon.
▪ A ship hove into view on the horizon.
heave to
[phrasal verb] past tense and past participle hove of a boat or ship : to stop moving
▪ The ship hove to.
▪ The ship hove to.
— see also heaving





